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Topic: MMIW Inquiry 20160803 (Read 8304 times)

Well said Sap1!! Yes, German's were suspect, and sadly Japanese Cdn families were placed in camps. Boatloads of jews who arrived for safety were turned back from our shores, so I have learned. The Ukrainians were also badly treated, and god forbid if you were Russian.

Our history has it dark pages, seldom mentioned, and of which we know little.War brings out the worst in human nature, as we see it take place even today.

Thank you for sharing. It gives us pause for thought.

I am an Anglo Canadian, and yetI can never turn my back to immigrants.

I remember all too well, how the Hungarians and Chec's were treated when they escaped Communistic regimes and fled to Canada. Quite frankly, I was very young, and seeing this through young eyes, I was capable of feeling sadness and a sense of shame for Adult behavior.

Canadians did not make their lives easy. Yet they prevailed, and have contributed to our Nation.

I should have said early Anglo's and the early French. Since that dark period of Canadian history, subsequent offspring down the line have learned from the mistakes.

Yes, the Japanese who were settled here and had assets of businesses, houses, etc lost everything. I failed to mention all those affected, yet they carried on and persevered. That is all they could do and did very well eventually.

That brings me to my thoughts on the whole "reservation" thing. I believe strongly that reserves need to be disbanded and people integrated finally after all these years. It is quite evident that a lot of money flows into the bands but somehow does not reach those in need and they live in squallor. This is not acceptable on so many levels. We have seen what ex-Chief Theresa Spence (Attawapiscat) and her little crew has done. There are more reserves where the funds are milked by a select few, leaving many others in poverty. Integrating them into society, providing education among many other things (including mental health issues) will give them hope and in the long run should be saving the Feds money.

Back some years, mid 1990's, then MLA (PC) Mike Cardinal was improving life for Metis/Aboriginal colonies in the north. There was a program whereby all those living on social assistance were tested, educated and provisions made in the north of a "natives first" policy. Those who didn't make the grade during testing were given tasks around their community, such as care aids for the elders who needed daily assistance, etc. Others studied Social Work and other professions. It was effective to some degree.

Back some years, mid 1990's, then MLA (PC) Mike Cardinal was improving life for Metis/Aboriginal colonies in the north. There was a program whereby all those living on social assistance were tested, educated and provisions made in the north of a "natives first" policy. Those who didn't make the grade during testing were given tasks around their community, such as care aids for the elders who needed daily assistance, etc. Others studied Social Work and other professions. It was effective to some degree.

Whatever happened to that program? Did it fizzle out too? Think of "Idle No More" - it went Idle alright!!

The only hope they have for positive and permanent change is through the AFN Too many groups forming to get the public's attention, is confusing and counter productive - as we Canadians get pooped out and will stop listening.

There was a better article on the Net but can't find it now. This makes mentions to Mike Cardinal's similar program for Calling Lake area, which was the same program used for Buffalo Lake Metis (Caslan Ab east of Boyle Ab).

Different programs were brokered out and suitable candidates hired to teach the Licensed Practical Nurse program which helped many people in the north. Not sure if the RN program was also introduced the same way but there were talks at one time.

Natives first policy has been established some years ago as well, so any northern school such as LacLaBiche, took natives first for upgrading. Subsequently further education did as well and from there on, companies like Grasslands pulp and paper mill (AlPac) also hired natives first if they had the education. Getting into AlPac is the great dream for many ... top wages and benefits galore.

This is a very long article written two years ago in the Globe and Mail. Well worth the read.I will say that this reserve is BC, it is not up north - but this reserve is successful and thriving.Brought from poverty to prosperity.

And herein lies the problems with other reserves ... They are so accustomed to payouts from government sources, for so long that change would not come easy. It can be done! Is Chief Louie actually blaming anyone? NO! He realized the problem and tackled it.

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some needed a kick in the butt. A hundred years of enforced dependency had broken our tradition of hard work and independence

Louie and his band councillors usually get most of the credit for turning his community around,and others were just opposed to any change of any kind.

Ronny McGinnis, who has been married to Joe McGinnis for 33 years, recalls that when Louie and Scott negotiated a pipeline lease deal, [b]there was tremendous pressure to parcel out the resulting income in per-capita payments to band members.

This man, many years ago, besides all of his other many accomplishments, ran a talk show on radio in Edmonton. One thing especially I remember him saying was that the aboriginal population totally missed the industrial revolution.

What would have happened if fur traders, prospectors, farmers, etc had not come to this land? So many countries contend with migration starting from the biblical days and forever more. It is what happens. Atrocities happen everywhere. They shouldn't but they do. It is life. I am trying to imagine this country the way it was back then had not any other country man set foot here. With increasing populations the hunting would have ended due to animal extinction. Nature has a way of culling as well ... diseases, etc.

Driftpile Alberta. If you are driving along #2 highway northern Alberta, and you blink, you will miss the sign that says Driftpile and may never know you were even there. It is Cree nation land.

Every year they hold North Country Fair in this area. Entertainers come from across Canada and the north, many of whom are aboriginal entertainers. Apparently they are living in the moment, and not in the past. How wonderful they must feel to be free of past memories that others live in wearing them down. Kudos to all these who can move forward despite hardships from years past.

In 1876, the Indian Act gave the government control of Indian economic and resource development and land use. They became what Calla calls "wards of Canada," which didn't allow them to engage in economic development. Only in the last few decades has there been any significant change in that arrangement.

si-300-air-north-737-200-combiVuntut Gwitchen First Nation in the Yukon earns revenue through its co-ownership of Air North. (CBC)

Now that they are able to do so, many First Nations are generating revenue, from a wide variety of sources. Here are some examples:

Squamish First Nation in North Vancouver and Westbank First Nation in Kelowna, B.C., have developed major shopping centres.Osoyoos First Nation in B.C. has a winery, NK'Mip Cellars.Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in the Yukon owns the Vuntut Development Corp., which co-owns Air North airline and other interests.Tlicho First Nations north of Yellowknife provides support services to the diamond mining industry, and also receives royalties from the mining companies.Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan has the Dakota Dunes Casino and the Chippewas of Rama First Nation in Ontario have Casino Rama. There are at least 15 other First Nation-owned casinos in Canada.Lac La Ronge First Nation's Northern Lights Foods sells wild rice and mushrooms internationally.Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario receives funds, as well as training and jobs, from De Beers' diamond mine on their traditional land, the result of an impact benefit agreement the two sides reached in 2005.Waswanipi Cree First Nation in Quebec has a silvaculture and timber harvest joint venture with Domtar.Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia has a hotel and convention centre.

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What happens when outside corporations develop resources on aboriginal land?

Often there's a lawsuit, and 90 per cent of the time, the Aboriginal group wins, according to Bill Gallagher, a lawyer who worked for the federal government as a treaty land entitlement officer on the Prairies. He later worked for Inco in the protracted negotiations over the Voisey's Bay project in Labrador.

including five victories while Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence was on her hunger strike. Most of the victories concern development on traditional rather than reserve lands.

Following is an interesting article. Note the blue below ... I recall ex-Chief Theresa Spence complaining not that long ago, that the diamond mines do not hire FN peoples.

and...

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Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario receives funds, as well as training and jobs, from De Beers' diamond mine on their traditional land, the result of an impact benefit agreement the two sides reached in 2005.[color]

I just don't know what to say! So much is swirling in my head. I suppose the then Chief Theresa Spence was on her hungerless strike in Ottawa, sitting in her luxury SUV watching TV screens on each headrest, while her people were shutting down travel to the mines. There is absolutely millions flowing into Attawapiskat and half the population is living in rotting drafty housing. There is very little for the children outside of education, if they even get that. Recently there were between 7 to 9 attempted suicides of very young people in Attawapiskat. These millions could easily build a rec centre and hockey arena and give the young a little something to look forward to.

Never mind what the Anglo's and French did way back in the 1800's and on, what are these band leaders doing to their own people??!! They just keep chewing and biting off the hands that feed them! To what end?

eta: There were 11 recent suicide attempts. They still need housing and then more counsellors and healthcare staff but there is no housing for more people. The new Chief claims there are a number of factors ... including problems stemming from residential schools.

Let there be very detailed counselling for survivors of residential schools and for a very long period so that they may heal. I am all for that kind of assistance. Let the counseling also extend to all the offspring.Perhaps outside help can be brought in to help deal with and get over past traumas ... by that I mean survivors of Hitler's regime. I am serious. We don't hear them crying over what happened ions ago. They picked up and rebuilt their lives all over the world because in order to survive they had to. There was no government they could hold ransom for money. There is a set amount that Germany still pays out but there is no demanding for more and more.

About 400 people live in Neskantaga, and a recent health report said about half of them struggle with addictionsThat leaves about a handful of employable adults to help grief-stricken family members and do all the other jobs in the community. A First Nations leader in the region said meeting the demands of the burgeoning mining industry is only adding to Neskantaga's misery.

A lot of pressure? Get after the booze runners, and kick them off of the reserve. I mean those people who supply it. It might be a start.At least those few employables can find and attend work, rather than baby sitting. It is not being fair to them. These are natives who have hope, who may have a chance.We know that alcohol is a depressant, and often results in suicide. This is not solely a native condition either.

Unfortunately there are those who do not want outside help (interference). I have heard countless recounts of teachers and others employed by different reserves what a constant struggle they had with students who didn't want them there. Several years ago one teacher was shot (and left paralyzed for the rest of his life) by a student. A young family man. Yet the booze runners seem welcomed!

What does all this have to do with the expensive MMIW? Everything! It is past time to look inward not outward.

It was not my intention to monopolize this thread with my opinions and complaints. All opinions and reactions are most welcome. I want you all to know that the comments I make are not from a racist mind. Just would like the truth like everyone else, and reading around in different articles I see different views from survivors themselves. Some were happy to get the education offered them so they could go on to Universities and many did. Others found it quite a hardship and have memories that produced demons in their minds.

I am not proud of what forefathers did here in Canada! Was there not another option, rather than segregating the initial people of the land, and then tearing their children away from them to go to residential schools? What is the worst is the sexual abuse at the hands of religious leaders and I believe this destroyed many lives. I believe Harper apologized although he had no hand in the barbarianism. Did any religious affiliations ever apologize? What good is an apology except to acknowledge the people?